Jeff Probst nearly hosted The Amazing Race – one decision by Mark Burnett shaped the future of two iconic reality TV shows.
Imagine a world where Jeff Probst wasn’t the face of Survivor. While this is hard to imagine, it happened 25 years ago, and the iconic host almost ended up hosting a completely different show. Before he became the face of the competitive reality show, he was nearly locked in for the host of The Amazing Race.
But everything changed when Survivor creator Mark Burnett chose Probst for the job – a decision that turned out to be quite pivotal for the show.
He not only took it to great heights but is also currently the showrunner involved with every element of the show. Let’s know more about how Jeff Probst was almost not a part of Survivor.
CBS almost chose a different host for Survivor instead of Jeff Probst
Before Jeff Probst took over Survivor’s hosting duties, his career path could’ve taken a very different turn – one that might also have changed the course of reality TV as we know it today. In an interview via Gold Derby, the host opened up about the time when he almost joined The Amazing Race as a host and not Survivor.
Back in the late ’90s, CBS was actually prepping to launch two unscripted shows, one being Survivor and the other being the globe-hopping competition The Amazing Race. The host revealed that the network had narrowed down two names – himself and Phil Keoghan.
Also, then CBS chief Les Moonves told Survivor creator Mark Burnett to pick whichever he deemed fit, assuring him that the other person would also get a show regardless. So, Burnett went ahead and chose Probst, and Keoghan landed the other show. The host added, “It fits me better. But Phil fits The Amazing Race.”
Now, looking back, Probst is thankful for how that decision turned out the way it did. And honestly, fans think the same as well. Over 48 seasons and counting, Probst has turned the show into one of the longest and most iconic shows on CBS.
Survivor almost didn’t make it to television
Before Survivor became the massive hit it is today, its future was far from certain – and so was Jeff Probst’s. But at the center of it all was producer Mark Burnett, who not only fought to get the show made but also handpicked the man who would become its face for the next 25 years.
In the late ’90s, Burnett was looking for a way to bring a new idea to American television. Inspired by a British concept that involved people surviving on a remote island, he saw the potential to create something unlike anything else on air via The Archive of American Television. But convincing CBS to take that kind of risk was tough, and initially, the network turned him down and so did others as well.
Still, he believed in his vision, and CBS finally reconsidered as Burnett would sell sponsorships to cover production costs. So, once the show was approved, Burnett faced another crucial decision, which was to choose the right host. Ultimately, Probst was chosen for the role, and the rest was history.
